THE COPPERBELT UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF MINES AND MINERAL SCIENCES

METALLURGY DEPARTMENT – SOLWEZI CAMPUS

MT 411 / 520 – Pyrometallugy Assignment Four

Due Date: 8th November, 2021 at 18:00 hours

The following matte is converted in a Pierce Smith converter

8 ladles at 18 tons matte ladle factor
Blowing rate 20,000 standard cubic feet per minute and 27 % enrichment
Matte analysis 55% Cu, 22% Fe and 23% S assume molecular matte
1. Calculate:
A. The blowing time if air blow efficiency is 85% [5 marks]
B. Flux requirement if Muva Hill flux ore with 95% SiO2 is used. [5 marks]
C. The converter slag weight and the slag ladles to the nearest ¼ ladle if the
slag ladle factor is 14 tons [5 marks]
2. If 1500 tons/day this same matte is diverted for blowing in a Mitsubishi
continuous converter, calculate:
A. The required blowing rate in m3/minute if the enrichment is 33%. [5 marks]
B. The daily slag weight and flux requirement [5 marks]
15% of original copper in matte is lost to slag and there is 18% CaO in slag. The
limerock is 95% pure.

Element Cu Fe Ca C S O
Atomic weight 64 56 40 12 32 16